Beverage cabinet having a rotatable compartmented member



1948. R. J. SHELLEY 2,447,602 BEVERAGE CABINET HAVING A RQTATABLE COMPARTMENTED' MEMBER Filed Oct. 50, 1945 H INVENTOR. Y xmgaw 27 V ATTD R N EYE Patented Aug. 24, 1948 BEVERAGE CABINET HAVING A ROTATABLE COMPABTMENTED MEMBER Robert 5. Shelley, Coconut Grove, Fla. Application October 30, 1945, Serial No. 625,581

6 Claims. (Cl. 312-148) This invention relates to a rotating bottled bevcooler to enable the user to have ready access to.

the coldest bottles in the cooler at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that eliminates the possibility of serving drinks that have not been in the cooler suiflciently long to be cold or of having to reach to the bottom of the cooler to obtain cold drinks.

With the above and other objects and advan tages in View the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a front View thereof.

Figure 3 is a detailed fragmentary view of the integral cam and latch showing the latch engaged.

Figure 4 is a detailed fragmentary View partly in section of the integral cam and latch showing the latch disengaged and Figure 5 is a detailed fragmentary view, partly in section, of the channel member and the cover therein.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the reference character It designates the drum which is provided with a series of compartments I2 formed by a plurality of partitions [4 extending radially from the hub [6 which is rotatably mounted on the axle [3.

The axle i8 is journalled in bearing 20 formed in the upper V of the X-shaped supporting frame 22 and the bearing 2| formed at the top of the V- shaped supporting frame 23, which are fastened at their lower ends 24 and 25 respectively to the base members 26 and bracing members28 are fixed to the outer edges of the ends 24 and 25 at their meeting point with the base members 26 to form a strong durable unitary structure.

Fixed to the outer edges of the partitions 14 are the sides 35 of the drum I0, which comprise the annular channel members 32, and the circular mesh members 34, secured to the members 32 at their peripherial marginal edges.

Siidably mounted in the channel members 32 are the wire covers 36, there being one less cover than compartment in order that one compartment will remain uncovered to admit access thereto. The covers 36 conform to the contour of the members 32 and can be moved in either direction depending upon which compartment it is desired to gain access to.

The covers and sides are made as shown in order that the cooling medium may entirely surround the bottles 38 located in the various compartments.

The drum I0 is designed to rotate in a forward direction only and a curved resilient latch 43 which conforms to the outer periphery of the drum [6 is mounted on the upper end 42 of the X-shaped supporting frame 22 to arrest any motion in the opposite direction by means of the dog 44 on the rear end of the latch 40 engaging the slots or openings 46 in the members 32. An index pin or latch 48 secured to the forward end of the latch 46 enters the slots 46 and automatically stops the drum Ii] at the proper position to dispense drinks from the next available compartment. The latch is released by manually operating the upturned end 50 of the latch 48 when the operator is ready to rotate the drum Ill to the next dispensing position.

An integral cam 52 and resilient latch bar 5 is provided to prevent the drum from rotating in the forward direction until the cover 36 is in place, thus preventing the possibility of accidentally emptying the contents of the compartment into the bottom of the cooler.

The latch bar 54 is secured to the upper end 56 of the X-shaped frame 22 and the cam 52 engages the cover 36 as shown in Figure 3, and prevents the latch pin 58 from engaging in the slots or openings 46 in the members 32. When the cover 36 is not in proper position the cam 52 drops down and the pin 58 engages one of the openings 46, looking the drum l0 against rotation.

The location of the slots or openings 46 in the channel members 32 are in relation to the partitions l4 in order that when the latch bar 54 and its integral cam 52 engage, the drum is in posi-' tion to dispense drinks, both the pins 48 and 50 are so synchronized with the slots or openings 46 that they engage simultaneously thereby making it possible to rotate the drum ID to the next position only when the cover 36 is pulled forward over the refilled compartment thereby raising the cam 52 which in turn releases the pin 58, enabling the operator to rotate the drum when the latch 48 is manually released.

When the device is to be used it is placed in an electric beverage cooler not shown, and one or more can be used depending upon the size of the cooler,

The compartment at the top is open to dispense the cold bottles therefrom and when the compartment is empty it is refilled with bottles to be cooled. At this time the cover from the next compartment to the rear of the refilled compartment is pulled forward manually thus positioning the cover over the refilled compartment. After the latch 48 has been released, the drum is rotated to the compartment next thereto, making this compartment available for use. This same procedure is followed as each compartment is emptied and refilled. Thus the bottles in the last compartment filled remain in the cooler for chilling for the longest possible time before'they are available for use. This eliminates the possibility of serving drinks before they are-chilled and gives access only to the coldest bottles in the drum at all times.

It is believed that the operation and construction of the device will be apparent to those skilled :in the art and it is to be understood that various changes-and modifications in the details of *construction, arrangement and'combination of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit. of the invention or the scope of the 'apmounting means forpreventing rearward motion thereof, and means coacting with said covers and secured to said mounting means to prevent forward movement of said drum only when 'said cover is not in proper position.

2. The invention as in claim 1, wherein said drum and said covers are of open Work construction.

3. The invention as in claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprise an -X-shaped frame and a -v-shaped frame secured at their lower edges to longitudinally-extending base members and bracing members extending transversely of saidframe members and-secured to the lower "ends thereof.

.4. The invention as in claim '1 wherein, said mounting means comprise an X-shaped frame :and "an inverted v-shaped frame secured at their lower edges to longitudinally extending *base members, and bracing members extending transversely of said frame members and secured to the lower ends thereof and said drum comprises annular channel-shaped'members having circular mesh members secured thereto at their peripheral'marginal edges, relatively spaced openingsin said channel membersandthe means for preventing forward motion 'of said drum comprises a curved latch mounted on one upper end of said X-shaped frame having a dog on one end thereof and a pin on the "other end thereof rotatively mountingsaid drum, means on said adapted to coact with the openings in the annular channel shaped members of said drum.

5. The invention as in claim 1 wherein, said mounting means comprise an X-shaped frame and an inverted V-shaped frame secured at their lower edges to longitudinally extending base members and bracing members extending transversely of said frame members and secured to the lower ends thereof and said drum comprises annular channel shaped members having circular mesh members secured thereto at their peripheral marginal edges, relatively spaced openings in said channel members and the means for preventing forward motion of said drum comprises a curved latch mounted on one upper end of said X-shaped frame having a dog on one end thereof and a pin on ,the other end thereof to coact with the openings in the annular channel-shaped members of said drum and the means coacting with said covers to prevent forward motion of said drum, comprises a latch bar, secured to the other upper endof said X-shaped frame,a camon said bar adapted to coact with said covers and-a'latch on said latch bar to coact with the openings in the annular channel-shaped members of said drum.

6. The invention as in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises an X-shaped frame and an inverted V-shape frame secured at their lower edges to longitudinally extending base members and bracing members extending transversely of said frame members and secured to the lower ends thereof, and said drum comprises annular channel-shaped members having circular mesh members secured thereto at theirperipheral marginal edges, relatively spaced openings in said latch bar to coact with the openings in the annular channel-shaped openings of said drum, and there is one less cover than there are compartments, and there are six compartments in said drum.

ROBERT J SHELLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

